ABCs of Criminal Court Table of Contents I. EVIDENCE IN ACTION Kevin P. Harrison Greensboro REASONS TO CARE... I-1 Rules Are Weapons... I-1 Rules Are Shields... I-1 Winning Over the Judge... I-1 Preserving Your Appeal... I-1 Confidence... I-1 THE FOUR HORSEMEN... I-2 THE FANTASTIC FIVE... I-2 Authentication... I-2 Expert Testimony... I-2 Foundation... I-2 Hearsay... I-2 Impeachment... I-2 TRIAL TACTICS... I-3 Constant Vigilance... I-3 Get Rulings in Advance... I-3 Move to Strike... I-3 Read the Judge and Jury... I-3 Speaking Objections... I-3 MODERN ISSUES... I-3 Old Evidence New Storage... I-3 Social Media... I-3 Cell Phone Searches... I-3 CONTACT... I-4 Contact Information... I-4 II. DEFENSES {Table of Contents.doc} Lucas M. Horner Asheboro DEFENSE TYPES...II-1
Bars to Prosecution...II-1 Defenses that Justify...II-1 Alibi...II-1 Defenses that Excuse...II-1 BARS TO PROSECUTION...II-2 Double Jeopardy...II-2 Ex Post Facto...II-3 Lack of Jurisdiction...II-4 Statute of Limitations...II-5 DEFENSES THAT JUSTIFY...II-6 Self-Defense (Murder and Assault)...II-6 Defense of Others or Property...II-7 ALIBI...II-8 Simple in its composition...ii-8 DEFENSES THAT EXCUSE...II-9 Duress and/or Necessity...II-9 Entrapment...II-10 Insanity...II-11 Diminished Capacity and Voluntary Intoxication...II-12 Unconsciousness or Automatism...II-13 Others...II-14 CONTACT...II-15 Contact Information...II-15 III. THE ABCS OF PROBATION VIOLATIONS {Table of Contents.doc} Sean Olson Greensboro THE ABCS OF PROBATION VIOLATIONS... III-1 ROAD MAP... III-2 BASICS... III-2 ATTACKS ON THE STATE S CASE... III-9 JUSTICE REINVESTMENT ACT... III-24 FURTHER READING... III-34 BASICS... III-2 Why Are Probation Violations Difficult... III-2 Basis of Probation Law... III-3 What Must a D do on Probation... III-4
Periods of Probation... III-6 Notice Requirements... III-8 ATTACKS ON THE STATE S CASE... III-9 Use Basis of Probation Law to Advocate!... III-10 Period of Probation Improper... III-10 Jurisdiction... III-13 Conditions of P.... III-16 Probable Cause... III-19 Absconding... III-21 The Absconding Donut Hole... III-22 JUSTICE REINVESTMENT ACT... III-24 General Changes... III-24 Basis... III-25 Effective Dates... III-25 Statutory Absconding... III-26 Revocation Restrictions... III-27 CRVs 15A1344(d2)... III-28 CRVs... III-28 Serving Time Generally... III-29 Serving Time Specifics... III-29 Tolling Eradicated... III-30 90-96 Mandatory (sort of)... III-31 Habitual Felon Changes... III-31 Creates Habitual B&E... III-32 Sentencing Changes... III-33 Community vs. Intermediate Punishment... III-33 FURTHER READING... III-34 IV. SENTENCING ABCS OF SENTENCING {Table of Contents.doc} Matthew A. Stockdale High Point AGGRAVATING/MITIGATING FACTORS... IV-1 BOX-CARING... IV-2 CHARTS... IV-2 DISPOSITIONS... IV-3 ENHANCEMENTS... IV-3 FEES/FINES... IV-4 GUNS... IV-4 HABITUALS... IV-5 INTERMEDIATE/COMMUNITY SENTENCING... IV-5 JAIL CREDIT... IV-6
KIDNAPPING... IV-6 LARCENY... IV-7 MISDEMEANOR... IV-7 NOTICE... IV-8 OFFENSE DATE... IV-8 PRIOR RECORD LEVEL... IV-9 QUICKLY... IV-9 RESTITUTION... IV-10 SENTENCE MINIMUM/MAXIMUM... IV-10 TRAFFICKING... IV-11 UNSUPERVISED/SUPERVISED PROBATION... IV-11 VESTS... IV-12 WORKING IT OFF... IV-12 SEX OFFENSE... IV-13 YOUR BABY MAMA... IV-13 Z I GOT NOTHING... IV-14 CONTACT... IV-14 V. TRIALS Christopher L. Parrish Greensboro VI. PRESERVING THE RECORD ON APPEAL {Table of Contents.doc} William B. Davis Greensboro YES, PRESERVATION IS IMPORTANT... VI-1 PREPARE AHEAD... VI-2 FILE MOTIONS... VI-2 GET IT ALL RECORDED... VI-3 OBJECT!... VI-3 Be Timely... VI-3 Don t Fear the Judge... VI-4 Don t Fear the Jury... VI-4 Be Persistent... VI-5 STATE SPECIFIC GROUNDS, OR IT DOESN T COUNT... VI-5 Statutory... VI-5 Rules of Evidence... VI-5 Constitutionalize It!... VI-6 ASK FOR REMEDIES, WHEN APPROPRIATE... VI-7 Strike the Testimony... VI-7 Curative or Limiting Instruction... VI-7 Mistrial... VI-7
Maybe More, If Can Show Intentional Bad Faith by the Prosecution Or Their Agents... VI-7 IF STATE S OBJECTION TO YOUR EVIDENCE IS GRANTED, MAKE AN OFFER OF PROOF... VI-8 MAKE SURE THAT THE NON-VERBAL THINGS THAT HAPPEN GET PLACED ON THE RECORD... VI-8 WHENEVER ANY PARTY RESTS, MOTION TO DISMISS... VI-9 State s Evidence, Defendant s Evidence, Rebuttal Evidence... VI-9 From Staples Hughes... VI-9 REQUESTS FOR JURY INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE IN WRITING... VI-10 THE ONLY PRE-TRIAL MOTION THAT YOU CAN APPEAL AFTER A GUILTY PLEA IS DENIAL OF A MOTION TO SUPPRESS... VI-10 A COUPLE OF MORE IN DEPTH GUIDES... VI-11 VII. BEING BETTER NOW Chad Garrett Greensboro BEING BETTER NOW... VII-1 {Table of Contents.doc}
Table of Contents INTRODUCTION...17 FORWARD...23 A...31 APPEALS District Court to Superior Court Infractions Procedures When Appealing From District Court to Superior Court Pretrial Release State s Right to Appeal Preserving Issues Legal Errors Reviewed by the Appellate Division Show of Prejudice Appeal of Guilty Pleas Relief Available Resentencing After Appellate Review B...37 BONDS AND PRETRIAL RELEASE Conditions of Pretrial Release General Rule Offenses with No-Right to Pretrial Release Domestic Violence Offenses and Pretrial Release Child Victims and Pretrial Release Firearm Offenses and Pretrial Release The ABCs of Criminal Court 5
Bonds After a Failure to Appear Bonds for New Offenses When Defendant Already on Pretrial Release C...43 CRIMES Crimes, Statutes, and Classifications D...101 DEFENSES Defenses Generally Notice Entrapment Necessity and Duress Self-Defense, Defense or Others and Property Insanity Diminished Capacity Voluntary Intoxication Unconsciousness or Automatism Alibi Double Jeopardy E...107 EXPUNCTIONS Defined and Importance General Procedures Costs AOC Forms and AOC Instructions 6 Chad D. Garrett
General Age Based Expunction Gang Offense Expunction (Age Based) Drug Offense Expunction (Age Based) Non-Violent Felony Expunction (Age Based) Non-Violent Felony Expunction (No Age Limitation) Prostitution Offense Expunction Not Guilty or Dismissal Expunction Identity Theft Expunction DNA Record Expunction Pardon of Innocence Expunction Notification of Expunctions Civil Liability Certificate of Relief F...123 FOUNDATION QUESTIONS (ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE) Laying Foundations Three Foundations Introducing Evidence Identifying Physical Evidence Demonstrative Evidence Illustrative Evidence Drawing a Picture or Diagram or List Documentary Evidence Audio or Video Evidence Expert Witness Scientific Evidence or New Technology Criminal Record The ABCs of Criminal Court 7
G...131 GENERAL CRIMES Crime Classifications Defined Infamous or Secrecy and Malice Racial or Ethnic Animosity Benefits Gained Forfeited Conspiracy Attempt Solicitation Accessory Before the Fact Accessory After the Fact H...137 HABITUAL STATUS Summaries of Each Status Offense Habitual Felon Habitual Misdemeanor Assault Habitual Larceny Violent Habitual Felon Habitual Breaking and Entering Armed Habitual Felon Habitual Impaired Driving I...145 INCARCERATION General Information and Social Statistics Prison Location/Contact/Resources Guide Earned Time/Merit Time 8 Chad D. Garrett
Beginning Incarceration Custody Levels Inmate Classification Reviews Work Release Sending Money Telephone Service Visitation Resources J...151 JOINDER AND SEVERANCE Joinder Severance Motion Timetable K...153 KNOWLEDGE AND CRIMES Act and State of Mind (Mens Rea) Intent Knowledge Willfulness and Wantonly Malice Negligence Strict Liability L...155 LEGAL MOTIONS Motions generally In Superior Court The ABCs of Criminal Court 9
Time Limitations In District Court Motions to Dismiss Suppression Motions Motions in Limine Burden of Proof M...161 MOTIONS FOR APPROPRIATE RELIEF Procedural Requirements Reasons for Denial Indigent Defendants MAR Within 10 Days of Verdict MAR Outside of 10 Days of the Verdict State s Right to File MAR MAR and Guilty Pleas N...169 NINETY-NINETY SIX Defined Misdemeanor Participants Felony Participants Controlling Authorities and Eligibility Probation Deferrals 10 Chad D. Garrett
O...173 OPENING AND CLOSING ARGUMENTS Opening Allowances and Opportunities Reserving Opening Defendant Admissions Objections Closings Allowances and Opportunities Procedure Permitted Not Allowed P...179 PROBATION VIOLATIONS Current Issues Issues to Review Termination Transfer Supervised to Unsupervised Probation Reinstate Probation Modify Probation Extend Probation Short Term Jail (Dip) Contempt Special Probation CRV (Dunk) Revocation The ABCs of Criminal Court 11
Q...185 QUERIES ACIS Manual Search Online Codes R...191 REGISTRATION FOR CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS Registration Database(s) Registration Length Termination Procedure Crimes Requiring Registration S...199 SENTENCING Determine Offense Class Determine Prior Record Level/Points & Levels Determine Potential Sentence Enhancements Determine Minimum and Maximums Determine Potential Disposition(s) Determine Additional Issues and Unintended Consequences Felony Sentencing Chart Misdemeanor Sentencing Chart Aggravating and Mitigating Factors Additional Enhancements - Habitual Status(es), Domestic Violence, Bullet-Proof Vests, Firearms Restitution 12 Chad D. Garrett
Fines and Fees Multiple Conviction Sentencing Options - Consolidate, Concurrent, Consecutive Multiple Conviction Sentencing Options for Misdemeanor Sentencing DNA Samples Jail Credit Earned Time Credit Probationary Sentences - Community Punishment or Intermediate Punishment N.C.G.S. 15A-1343 - Conditions of Probation N.C.G.S. 15A-1343.2(e) & (f) - Probation Officer Powers and Delegations Drug Trafficking Drug Trafficking Sentencing Chart Drug Classification and Weight Chart Drug Trafficking Special Rules Sentencing General Caution T...265 TRIALS Mentors Organization for Trial Jury Trial Versus Bench Trial Amendment Arraignment Jurisdiction Counsel and Competency Issues Recordation of Proceedings Motions The ABCs of Criminal Court 13
Jury Issues Organization Opening State s Case in Chief Defense Motion to Dismiss Defense Evidence Rebuttal and Additional Evidence Defense Motion to Dismiss Charge Conference Closing Arguments Jury Charge Jury Deliberations Verdict Discharge or Sentence the Defendant Post-trial U...275 UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES Extraneous Costs of Criminal Convictions Internet Record Checks and Impact Enhanced Sentences Deportation Eviction/Public Housing/Trespass Rights Denied and Required Registrations Poverty Cycle Community Impact 14 Chad D. Garrett
V...279 VOIR DIRE Jury Selection Juror Qualifications Challenges Jury Questions: General Questions Jury Questions: Introductions Jury Questions: Introduction of Voir Dire Principles Jury Questions: Juror Life Experience Jury Questions: Cases Involving Children Jury Questions: Testimony of Others Jury Questions: Testimony of Law Enforcement Jury Questions: Defendant s Decision Not to Testify Jury Questions: Presumption of Innocence Jury Questions: Reasonable Doubt W...293 WARRANTS AND OTHER CRIMINAL PLEADINGS Charging Documents Constitutional and Statutory Authority Citation Criminal Summons Magistrate Order Arrest Warrant Statement of Charges Orders for Arrest Transfer from District Court to Superior Court Initial Appearance Required The ABCs of Criminal Court 15
X...299 ExTRADITION Arrest Fugitive Warrants Generally Governor s Warrant Probation/Parole Fugitives Y...305 YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS Debate Information available from the NC Office of Juvenile Defender Website Representing Juvenile Offenders Terminology Sentencing Z...311 ZEAL Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 0.1 Be All Things Zeal Defined 16 Chad D. Garrett